Global News has obtained freedom of information documents, revealing  Canadian representatives spent months working diplomatic back channels over Saudi Arabia’s arrest of civil rights and women’s rights activists. But, it was the arrest of activist Samar Badawi that specifically prompted the Canadian embassy in Riyadh to recommend the government tweet out its concern, triggering a diplomatic dust-up between Canada and Saudi Arabia earlier this year.  Global News Political Reporter Amanda Connolly runs down what the FOI documents revealed.

There was more drama and intrigue at the legislature yesterday, with embattled speaker Daryl Plecas threatening to resign, if the outcome of an audit he’s recommending doesn’t trigger public outrage. Lashing out at  MLA’s and going head to head with the media, Plecas delivered a fiery and somewhat angry message. Global News Online Legislative Reporter Richard Zussman talks us through what exactly happened at the meeting.

The latest employment figures have been released this morning by Statistics Canada. In BC, the employment rate went up from 4.1 in October, to 4.4% in November.  What is causing this uptick in the numbers? Employment Minister Bruce Ralston joins the show.

Last night, Minister Sajjan hosted his American counterpart, James Mattis in Ottawa, to discuss where we’re at the fight against Islamic State as part of the Global Coalition To Defeat ISIS. The meeting follows up previous discussions which took place in Brussels in June.  Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan joins Jon to talk about his conversation with his American counterpart.